eBay Revamps Feedback System

[torez]

Finally some improvement in Ebay rating system.  I was so fed up with sellers who do not combine/overcharge for shipping.  Their answer would simply be:  "Mmmm no, I don't combine shipping charges."  My response would be:  "Ok then, send each item in a separate package, as I'm paying for it."  I already lost two accounts as I refused to pay these who tried to rip me off.  One example was the guy wanted me to pay $160+ to ship around 40 cd, another would ask $80 for shipping some small computer parts that should not cost more than $15 to ship.  This new rating will allow me to weed out these sellers who basically try to sell s&h charges.

eBay adds Detailed Seller Ratings to its feedback system

eBay has decided to make the first significant change to its feedback system in over 11 years with the announcement of Feedback 2.0. In addition to the standard positive, neutral and negative ratings, Feedback 2.0 will also provide four additional categories, where buyers can individually rate sellers on called Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs).

The four new categories are: Item as described, Communication, Shipping time and Shipping and Handling charges. Buyers will be able to rate sellers on a 5-star rating scale on each category.

According to eBay, the DSRs do not affect a seller's overall feedback score, but are put in place to help gauge a seller's performance in key areas. "We expect buyers to purchase from sellers who have high stars on the dimensions most important to them," said Brian Burke, Senior Manager, Global Policy Management for eBay.

Other changes include the addition of the item title and selling price under each feedback entry on a seller's feedback page. Previously, only the feedback comment along with the feedback rating and item number were included.

eBay plans to roll out Feedback 2.0 in Australia, Belgium, France, India, Ireland, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom within the next few days. Feedback 2.0 will be launched in the United States this spring.

Link to article source and image:
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=6397

[horseboy]

Well, some sellers plan for a certain amount of money per item including shipping. Sellers on ebay basically use shipping charges as a marketing tool. It is and always has been the buyers responsibility to pay for the charges as listed. I have never assumed a seller would discount combined shipping if he didn't say so in his auctions. If he doesn't say he discounts combined shipping, don't assume otherwise. He has no obligation to do something like that just because you think he should. You can always just email him and ask him if he does that. The vast majority of the time they are more than happy to tell you. I think that rating category is more to determine if sellers are charging shipping as stated. For instance, if an auction said buyer pays actual shipping charges, the question is, was that actually the case.

[Chris G]

I'm confused - if you don't like a seller's shipping policy or rates, then don't buy from them.

That said, I think the new rating system is pretty cool.

[MYX]

It is good that there is an updated system. I have done my best to maintain my 100 score, but there are some people that I have bought from that communication has been freakishly horrible.

Shipping...I was looking at those LED flashlights. $4.5 for the flashlight and $27 for shipping. Mmmmmmmmno.

I have added a S&H fee a few times on items that required super careful packing to make sure it gets to dirkadirkastan in 1 piece. When you put every squishy material known to man in a package it can add up. But the buyer never even seemed bothered, in fact quite the opposite, he commented in the feedback about how good the packaging was.

Right now I am sweating. This lady bought my coin changer (which I put in the ad, that I preferred local pick up only). She decided to have DHL pick it up. I wrapped it up and DHL came and got it. This was over 2 weeks ago. It is still sitting in Ohio. (It has been there for 12 days). Thank God I took pictures of it all boxed up, and pictures of the DHL guy picking it up, puting it in the van, and taking it away.(cell phones are great aren't they?)
What I don't get is why if I am in Georgia, and she is in Texas...Why does it go through Ohio first. This can not be a money making route.

[torez]

As I bid on more than one item from the same seller, I boost the final sell price of his/her items.  Some of the items I wouldn't even look at, if it wasn't for the idea that the seller would combine shipping (pass on the shipping cost savings onto the buyer, not keep the money for yourself).  After all the seller doesn't have to pack/ship multiple packages, just one and the shipping is just means to deliver given items.  The seller should not try to "sell" shipping charges.  Handling charges are fine, as they may cover additional materials.

When I go on Ebay buying spree, I may spend couple of hundred+ dollars in one week.  Asking each seller for combined shipping is not always an option, as I may bid on ten similar items and win just one.  Another thing, I wouldn't call combined shipping substracting $1.50 from each shipping charge when the seller is asking $15 s&h for just one item.  Some items are not very popular and people don't bid on it.  Compensation by ripping off these buyers with phony shipping charges is not a sign of a good seller.

Another example, I bid on some laptop parts.  They happened to be from the same seller.  I won some of the auctions, some I didn't need.  I looked at the total he sold all the parts for and it came out to be more than selling the whole working laptop (his was not working).  When I got to the checkout, I found that he wants me to pay $64 to ship these crummy parts.  I've seen people charging maximum $35 to ship well packed working laptop.  He said:  "I'm using standard flat rate shipping charge."  I didn't exactly know what that "standard" rate is.  The way I see it, I'm paying for the auction amount that was determined at the closing.  Overinflating shipping charges is a no no.

[somunny]

This is great and all but it doesn't address the biggest problem with feedback:  People who don't bother to leave it.  For years I was a firm believer that as a seller, I should leave feedback immediately after the buyer paid for their item.

After many, many occuances of buyers failing to leave any feedback at all on item I sold to them, I was forced to wait until the buyers received their items and left me feedback.  Some people may think this is holding the feedback hostage but there's motivation for lazy buyers otherwise.

[Chris G]

Some of the items I wouldn't even look at, if it wasn't for the idea that the seller would combine shipping

I think you may be missing the point still.  You can't just form your own "idea" that the seller will combine shipping - you have to ask them.  And it's irrelevant how much it actually costs them to ship the item.  A lot of sellers simply inflate the shipping cost so they can charge less for the item, thereby costing them less in eBay seller's fees.  And I don't think that's necessarily "evil" either, since the shipping cost is right there on the auction for you to see.  Sure, I've been irritated before by someone charging me $5 for shipping and then I see the box has $1.75 stamp on it, but the bottom line is whether the overall cost was a good deal or not compared to other options.  

 
Chris

[horseboy]

Some of the items I wouldn't even look at, if it wasn't for the idea that the seller would combine shipping

I think you may be missing the point still.  You can't just form your own "idea" that the seller will combine shipping - you have to ask them.  And it's irrelevant how much it actually costs them to ship the item.  A lot of sellers simply inflate the shipping cost so they can charge less for the item, thereby costing them less in eBay seller's fees.  And I don't think that's necessarily "evil" either, since the shipping cost is right there on the auction for you to see.  Sure, I've been irritated before by someone charging me $5 for shipping and then I see the box has $1.75 stamp on it, but the bottom line is whether the overall cost was a good deal or not compared to other options.  

 
Chris

Exactly. The seller has the right to charge what they want to for shipping. if they didn't have that right, then every auction would say "buyer pays actual shipping fees." if you don't want the product and/or don't agree with the shipping terms, then don't bid. It is that simple.

Nobody is twisting your arm and making you bid. Bidding on stuff you don't need? Based on the assumption that the seller will combine shipping, when the seller makes no indication that that would be the case? And paying more for broken laptop part than a working laptop is worth? Now, that I think about this, maybe you should just stay away from Ebay altogether. 

[hypernova]

Right now I am sweating. This lady bought my coin changer (which I put in the ad, that I preferred local pick up only). She decided to have DHL pick it up. I wrapped it up and DHL came and got it. This was over 2 weeks ago. It is still sitting in Ohio. (It has been there for 12 days). Thank God I took pictures of it all boxed up, and pictures of the DHL guy picking it up, puting it in the van, and taking it away.(cell phones are great aren't they?)
What I don't get is why if I am in Georgia, and she is in Texas...Why does it go through Ohio first. This can not be a money making route.

The great part about that is you said that SHE arranged the pickup.  She's got nobody to blame but her own stupid ass.  Her first mistake was calling DHL.

[somunny]

Thank God I took pictures of it all boxed up, and pictures of the DHL guy picking it up, puting it in the van, and taking it away.(cell phones are great aren't they?)

You have a fallout shelter, don't you? 

[torez]

Some of the items I wouldn't even look at, if it wasn't for the idea that the seller would combine shipping

I think you may be missing the point still.  You can't just form your own "idea" that the seller will combine shipping - you have to ask them.  And it's irrelevant how much it actually costs them to ship the item.  A lot of sellers simply inflate the shipping cost so they can charge less for the item, thereby costing them less in eBay seller's fees.  And I don't think that's necessarily "evil" either, since the shipping cost is right there on the auction for you to see.  Sure, I've been irritated before by someone charging me $5 for shipping and then I see the box has $1.75 stamp on it, but the bottom line is whether the overall cost was a good deal or not compared to other options.  

 
Chris

Exactly. The seller has the right to charge what they want to for shipping. if they didn't have that right, then every auction would say "buyer pays actual shipping fees." if you don't want the product and/or don't agree with the shipping terms, then don't bid. It is that simple.

Nobody is twisting your arm and making you bid. Bidding on stuff you don't need? Based on the assumption that the seller will combine shipping, when the seller makes no indication that that would be the case? And paying more for broken laptop part than a working laptop is worth? Now, that I think about this, maybe you should just stay away from Ebay altogether. 

Tsk ... Horseboy, please read my whole message before you assume things.  Your last sentence wasn't in the best taste at all.  If you read my message, it says that I only bid/won some of the items.  The total price was for all the items he sold (including my and other's winning bids).  I fix laptops as a weekend hobby/job.  I know what particular parts can be worth, so what I got, I didn't overpay.

As for your replies, it looks to me that you are mostly a seller.  Now, think about it, how many items would you sell, if there were no buyers?  Simple arithmetics at work.  I'm making a transaction by bidding.  Overinflated shipping charges are not seller's priviledge.  Shipping is just means to complete and close the transaction.  As I'm still paying for the shipping (so transaction can come to an end), I have a right to judge when I'm being taken advantage of.

[horseboy]

For the record, I have been an Ebayer since 1997, and I have never sold a single item. I just understand the rules. Read the description, and never assume something just because that is the way you think it should be. I meant no offense, and I apologize if I offended. 

[CheffoJeffo]

Tsk ... Horseboy, please read my whole message before you assume things.  Your last sentence wasn't in the best taste at all.  If you read my message, it says that I only bid/won some of the items.  The total price was for all the items he sold (including my and other's winning bids).  I fix laptops as a weekend hobby/job.  I know what particular parts can be worth, so what I got, I didn't overpay.

As for your replies, it looks to me that you are mostly a seller.  Now, think about it, how many items would you sell, if there were no buyers?  Simple arithmetics at work.  I'm making a transaction by bidding.  Overinflated shipping charges are not seller's priviledge.  Shipping is just means to complete and close the transaction.  As I'm still paying for the shipping (so transaction can come to an end), I have a right to judge when I'm being taken advantage of.
[/quote]

Tsk ? Tsk ? 

So, now are you complaining that some things are worth more parted out than whole ? Boy, are you in the wrong hobby if you have a problem with that.

Cheers

[torez]

Horseboy, no problem.  No offence taken.  You have to understand that I do ask for combined shipping, but this does not happen all the time.  Depends how much time I spend checking out Ebay.  I'm using sniping software to manage and bid on auctions, as I don't have time to sit and wait for auctions to close.  Just set my maximum price and forget it.  With this method I may bid on many auctions, but win maybe 20% (depends on how bad I want it).  Once these auctions are in the queue, many of them are from same sellers.  Now asking all these sellers, if they combine shipping and then matching each reply to each auction is very time consuming.  If I have time I check other auctions they offer.  Once again, these auctions end up in my sniping software and I only check when auction closes.

I mentioned before that some of these who say that they combine shipping, they end up taking off like a $1.50 from each shipping charge.  They didn't say it in the email, just yes, I combine shipping charges.  I try to come to some agreement to get some more reasonable shipping charges, but this doesn't work many times.  Do you think it's right to do that, as it can be clearly seen that the seller wants to profit on these charges.  When I receive the package and then see that the actual combined shipping was $10 (they don't even insure it or provide tracking information), not $45, that's a slap in the face.  Even, if we try asking each seller, and then end up with overinflated charges, do you think it's right?  Don't you think there should be some guideliness that would refer to these "shady" areas of Ebay transactions?

Tsk ? Tsk ? 

So, now are you complaining that some things are worth more parted out than whole ? Boy, are you in the wrong hobby if you have a problem with that.

Cheers

Jeffo, I have no problem with the guy parting a laptop, as I prefer sometimes to get some parts, so I don't have lots of junk/leftover parts all over my room.  All I was talking about is about the guy's shipping charge for these laptop items that were more than someone else would ship the whole laptop for.  All I got was lcd screen, 2 sticks of memory (separate auction for each stick), memory cover, hdd cover, slim dvd-rom and keyboard (box was very light).  He asked for shipping these used parts more than it would cost to ship whole new desktop pc.

[billf]

All I was talking about is about the guy's shipping charge for these laptop items that were more than someone else would ship the whole laptop for.  All I got was lcd screen, 2 sticks of memory (separate auction for each stick), memory cover, hdd cover, slim dvd-rom and keyboard (box was very light).  He asked for shipping these used parts more than it would cost to ship whole new desktop pc.

Did you ask how much it would be to combine these items for shipping before bidding?  There are ebay sellers that are ripping people off in the shipping department.  This is why, if the listing doesn't mention shipping or combining items, I ask before even thinking of bidding.

[Texasmame]

This is great and all but it doesn't address the biggest problem with feedback:  People who don't bother to leave it.  For years I was a firm believer that as a seller, I should leave feedback immediately after the buyer paid for their item.

After many, many occuances of buyers failing to leave any feedback at all on item I sold to them, I was forced to wait until the buyers received their items and left me feedback.  Some people may think this is holding the feedback hostage but there's motivation for lazy buyers otherwise.

My policy on feed (member since '99):

~I leave it as a buyer once I get the item and it's good
~I leave it as a seller once the buyer leaves it for me.  (One too many, "I want $x back or I'll leave you a negative" crap)

[billf]

This is great and all but it doesn't address the biggest problem with feedback:  People who don't bother to leave it.  For years I was a firm believer that as a seller, I should leave feedback immediately after the buyer paid for their item.

After many, many occuances of buyers failing to leave any feedback at all on item I sold to them, I was forced to wait until the buyers received their items and left me feedback.  Some people may think this is holding the feedback hostage but there's motivation for lazy buyers otherwise.

My policy on feed (member since '99):

~I leave it as a buyer once I get the item and it's good
~I leave it as a seller once the buyer leaves it for me.  (One too many, "I want $x back or I'll leave you a negative" crap)

I've been a member since '99 as well and have been both seller and buyer.  Texasmame's policy is exactly my policy on leaving feedback.  I'm at 198 and 100% feedback.  Have had a couple of snags along the way with others regarding shipping or item condition, but I've been able to work it out any differences prior to either of us leaving "revenge" type of feedback.

[paigeoliver]

As far as combined shipping goes. Try doing this to the seller who wants to charge $60 to send 6 auctions that will cost them $10 total.

Say, well, I can give you half that and you can send them all in one box to one address and I will distribute all my GIFTS myself, or I can give you the full $60 dollars and you can send the auctions to the following addresses (give them 6 different addresses, work, parent' house, downstairs neighbor, etc), of course if I do THAT then I will have to pay with 12 separate paypal transactions, one for each item, and one for each shipping, for tax reasons of course.

If they are still not cooperating then consider paying them in hundreds of 10 cent paypal transactions. They will lose money on every one.

Of course that is all theory. I myself always research combined shipping with the seller before pursuing, some sellers would actually lose major money doing so. A seller who lists all his books for a penny each with $3 shipping would lose money on someone who bought 30 books and forced exact shipping.

[danny_galaga]

As far as combined shipping goes. Try doing this to the seller who wants to charge $60 to send 6 auctions that will cost them $10 total.

Say, well, I can give you half that and you can send them all in one box to one address and I will distribute all my GIFTS myself, or I can give you the full $60 dollars and you can send the auctions to the following addresses (give them 6 different addresses, work, parent' house, downstairs neighbor, etc), of course if I do THAT then I will have to pay with 12 separate paypal transactions, one for each item, and one for each shipping, for tax reasons of course.

If they are still not cooperating then consider paying them in hundreds of 10 cent paypal transactions. They will lose money on every one.

Of course that is all theory. I myself always research combined shipping with the seller before pursuing, some sellers would actually lose major money doing so. A seller who lists all his books for a penny each with $3 shipping would lose money on someone who bought 30 books and forced exact shipping.

there is a simple answer for that though that the seller can use. very clever really:

NO 

[danny_galaga]

This is great and all but it doesn't address the biggest problem with feedback:  People who don't bother to leave it.  For years I was a firm believer that as a seller, I should leave feedback immediately after the buyer paid for their item.

After many, many occuances of buyers failing to leave any feedback at all on item I sold to them, I was forced to wait until the buyers received their items and left me feedback.  Some people may think this is holding the feedback hostage but there's motivation for lazy buyers otherwise.

ive only NOT left feedback twice myself. once when it took so long to get something i couldnt find the auction anymore! (i since found i can go further back than i thought) and at the moment im not happy about something but which i cant really fault, not even worth leaving a neutral...

ive had a bit of a problem with SELLERS not leaving feedback. mostly from ones who sell a lot of stuff and easily overlook your feedback. a few emails normally jogs the memory though (",)

[Chris G]

I always leave feedback, but it's just not worth my time to try and keep track of whether the other person did since so many people are either too lazy or inconsiderate to reciprocate.  I've never had a problem buying or selling things, though, so I've stopped worrying about my "number".

[shmokes]

I actually agree with the OP to some extent.  If he asks for combined shipping and is declined the seller should be willing to ship each item separately. 

[Crax]

The thing I hate most about feedback is that a majority of sellers won't leave it unless the buyer does first it seems.  One guy I bought something from I never left feedback on as I was sure as soon as I left him a bad feedback, he would leave me one in return.

Somehow, they need to hide the feedback you left until both members have left it or a timeframe has expired for feedback to be left.

[DrewKaree]

I actually agree with the OP to some extent.  If he asks for combined shipping and is declined the seller should be willing to ship each item separately. 

Therein lies the problem you guys aren't getting. 

IF they're not willing to discount for combined shipping, do you NOT think it's dishonest if they then turn around and combine shipping AFTER THE BUYER HAS STATED THAT HE WANTED THE ITEMS SHIPPED SEPARATELY?

The guy simply wanted to make sure his money was actually going towards the shipping, and since they WERE separate auctions, and the guy WAS going to charge him separate shipping charges, is it not fair and reasonable to EXPECT separate boxes then?  After all, he PAID for it, right?